Dear Parents,
It’s a
big weekend for the High School. Friday afternoon was full of fun and games as
we celebrated our first Spring Fest. Organized by the 10th grade
Student Council representatives Chaitra Subramaniam and Eashaan Gunapati along with Senior Dhanush Harigovindsingh, the
activities included a battle of the bands, soccer, basketball, volleyball,
dodgeball, capture the flag, facepainting, debate and speed chess, capped off
with a tug-of-war. The four houses (Warriors, Ninjas, Vikings and Samurais) consisting
of mixed grade levels competed for the trophy that they will hold for the
coming year. Far more important than that, we all had a chance to relax and
have some fun together before the IB and AP exams begin next week.
Our other main event, the Spring Theatre
Production is
yet to happen. “Jaya: Mythic Images from the Mahabharata” will be presented
this evening and tomorrow evening at 7:00 p.m. in the theater. I am looking
forward to seeing this collaboration between student actors and technicians,
the music and art departments, local sculptors, painters, and classical
musicians, parents, a guest director from the U.S., the AISC Community Choir,
and the AISC Bollywood Dance Troupe that has been months in the making. Ticket
sales have been brisk and we anticipate a very good turnout for both shows. If
you haven’t got your tickets yet, come early and purchase them at the door. You
don’t want to miss this event!
IB
and AP Exams – IB exams will start on May 2 and AP
exams will start on May 6. These are important exams both for our students and
for the faculty. For the students these exams provide a measure of their
achievement in these advanced subjects. For the faculty, they provide external measures
of the effectiveness of our curriculum and instructional methods.
While these exams are important, we must be aware
that they are one-time measures of a student’s achievement and as such are
inherently limited in their reliability. Even the best of students can have an
off day. Illness or stress, whether over the exam or some other factor, can
have a significant impact on a student’s ability to demonstrate his or her knowledge
and skills. The range of knowledge and skills learned in a typical IB or AP
course is extensive, and the exam measures only a part. As a result, there is
an element of luck – whether the exam questions are about areas of the student’s
strength or not.
With so many variables, what is most important is that
each student is well-rested, healthy and confident. All-day or all-night
cramming is not likely to result in additional learning and may well result in
fatigue, which affects the student’s ability to think and to recall
information. Ergo, a relaxing evening and a good night’s rest may well be one
of the most effective pre-exam strategies. Words of encouragement and unconditional
support will go a long way in building confidence, leading to a better exam
result.
Be sure to keep up with updates from the IB Coordinator and the AP Coordinator regarding the exams.
Parent Coffee with Dr. Rojas - Dr. Virginia Rojas, a renowned international consultant, will return to AISC from April 30 through May 8 to work with our teachers on strategies for teaching English language learners. She will share her expertise at a Parent Coffee on Tuesday, May 7 from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m in the Black Box Theater.
Yearbook
orders – Orders for the 2013 AISC Yearbook can be placed starting on
Monday, April 15. The cost is US $50. This year we will be using an online
ordering system that will allow you to choose additional options for such as "Hear the Year", a news
summary of the year in photos, a plastic cover or photo pockets. Just click on the link below or
go to the AISC webpage under “Quick Links.” Payments can be made using a credit
card. (Note: There may be
transaction fees assessed by your bank if it is not a dollar account.)
Yearbook orders will also be
taken by members of the Yearbook staff in the main entry on Wednesdays after
school and in the Finance Office.
High School Parent Coffee – Our next High School Parent coffee has
been rescheduled to May 9 due to a conflict
with the Annual General Meeting of the AISC Association. At the Parent Coffee,
Mrs. Callaway will discuss our plans for a comprehensive student well-being
program for next year. I hope you will join us for that meeting.
Have a safe and relaxing weekend.
John McCandless
High School Principal
